Air-volume control mechanism



A. W. BURKS AIR-VOLUME CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 14, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l ARTHUR WBURKS .se t, 5,1939. 7 ,A. w. BuiQKs 2,172,097

AIR-VOLUME CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 14,1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I AR 5 Patented Sept. 5, 1939 AIR-VOLUME CONTROL MECHANISM Arthur W. Burks, Decatur, Ill. Application May 14, 1937, Serial No. 142,563

23 Claim This invention relates to, air volume control mechanism that is primarily adapted for incorporation in a hydro-pneumatic water supply system and constitutes an improvement upon.

the apparatus disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 93,557, filed. July 31, 1936.

This improvement consists mainly in the float controlled valve mechanism between the air inlet chamber and the suction line that provides a more successful operation of: the water system thru higher pressure ranges than the apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned application.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide such a float controlled valve mechanism which is controlled by the differential in pressures between the water tank and the float chamber for maintaining the float valve in elevated position during the pumping of the water and air from V the float and air chamber.

The invention comprises the novel' structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims, p

In the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar fea- .tures in the diflferent views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an apparatus for a water systeminvolving this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view thru the air controller.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the air controller.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

In order to illustrate this'invention, there is shown in the drawings a water storage tank I through which .a suction or water supply'pipe 2 extends that is connected by a valve housing 3 with-a water supply connection 4. The suction pipe 2 is connected to a centrifugal pump 5 driven by a motor 6 which is controlled by the mechanism in a switch box 1 supported upon the motor and controlled by the pressure in the tank as is well known. The tank I has an outlet 8 for the water supply pipe.

An air inlet housing or chamber 9 is secured to the top of the valve housing 3 by means of a stirrup l the ends of which extend thru ears I l on the housing 9 for the reception of nuts l2 tor clamping the housing 9 in position. This air housing 9 has an offset portion 9a (Fig. 3) that has an air inlet. valve l3 which automatically admits air when a suitable vacuum occurs in the housing.

A novel valve structure is interposed between the housing 9 and the valve casing 3 and comprises a suitable casting it that forms the bottom of the housing 9. This casting [4 has a central cylindrical cavity IS in which issupported a cy-- lindrical cup-shaped member i 6. It will be noted that the wall of the cavity l has an annular shoulder l1 and the cup-shaped member has a lower flange l8 resting upon such shoulder. A cap disk I! is threaded in the upper end of the cavity I 5 against the top of the cup-shaped member l6.

The bottom of the cup shaped member I'G is provided with an exterior conical valve seat or port 20 and the cap disk l9 has an interior conical valve seat or port 2| similar to the valve seat 20. A float 22 in the'housing 9 is provided with a valve stem 23 thatextends thru the cap disk l9, and the bottom of the cup-shaped member It. This valve stem 23 has spaced enlarged spherical valves 24 and 25 adapted to simultaneously close the ports 2i and 20 for closing the housing 9.

The upper valve 24 has a slightly larger'efiectlve pressure area than the valve with respect to the tank pressure since such-pressure will be directed upwardly against the larger contacting ring of valve 24 and downwardly against the smaller contacting ring of valve 25.

The-aforementioned cavity l5 has a conical valve seat or port 26 in itsbottom which is a suitable distance below the bottom ot the cupshaped member l6 so that it can be engaged and closed by the spherical valve 25. Just above the valve seat orport 26 there is a relatively. wide passage2'l thru the casting ll that merges with the cavity i5 .and communicates therewith thru port 29. This passage 21 communicates with the interior of the housing 9 for allowing the pumpto withdraw the water from the air chamber 9 when the valve 25 is elevated.

T e plane between the valve seats 20 and 2i,

there is a passage 28 extending from the cavity IS. The passage 28 communicates with a pipe 29 connected to the tank i. It will be noted that the wall of the cup-shaped member lli which is spaced from the wall of the cavity is provided with an aperture 30 for establishing communication betweenthe tank and housing 9 through the valve port 2| when the same is open.

The valve port 26 communicates with the water ,in'the valve housing 3 thru a passage 3! in the lower part of the'casting H which has a pendant bearing 32 for slidably receiving the stem 33 of a check valve 34 which normally closes a water inlet passage 35 in an angular portion 36 in the T the second time,

valve housing 3.

The water from the source of supply will enter thru the connection 4 and descend into a strainer 31 in a cylindrical part of the valve housing from which it will pass to the check port 35 of the suction line.

The upper end of the air chamber 9 is connected by a pipe 38. with a valve sleeve 39 (Fig. 4) threaded in the Wall of the tank I. This valve sleeve has an intermediate restricted passage 40 with a bleeder'slot or groove 9!. The passage Mi is adapted to be closed by a ball check valve 42 located in the passage thru the sleeve 39 upon the inner side of the restricted passageflfl. This ball check valve 92 is under the influence of the pressure within the tank.

When the apparatus herein described has been installed and it is desired to put the same into service, it will be necessary to first prime the same by passing water into the tank I until'it reaches the level shown in Fig. 2 which will be below the float 22. Consequently, the float will be in its lowered position with the ports 29 and 2! open and the port 26 closed as shown in Fig. 2. If the pump is now started, it will draw water from the suction line and flll the tank i. As the water rises in the storage tank I, it will also rise in the housing or chamber 9 due to the inflowing of pipes 29 and 38. chamber 9, there will be a tendency for the float 22 to rise and open thelower valve and close the upper double valve. This tendency of the float to rise is however overcome by the differential in pressures between that in the chamber 9 above the valve 25 at 26 and that in the suction line below the valve 25 with the result that the valve 25 at 26 will remain closed as long as the pump is operating to initially fill the tank. For it will be evident that as the pressure increases in both the tank I and chamber 9, the pressure in the suction line will remain below atmospheric pressure as long as the pump operates. This dif- 'ierence in pressure will be suflicient to maintain the float down with the doublevalve open and the lower valve port 26 closed against the buoyancy of the float.

When the storage tank is initially filled, there is no excess of air therein with the result that the water will rise in the storage tank above the pipe 38 before the pump is stopped. As soon as the pump is stopped, the pressure will automatically equalize on both sides of the valve 25 when it is closing the port 26, thus allowing the buoyancy to lift float 22 and open the port 26 and close the ports 20 and 2i.

It will be understood that when the water in the storage tank is above the sleeve 39, the entire mechanism is full of water and the" lower port 26 will be open. If the pump is now set in operation the vacuum created in the suction line will draw the water from chamber 9 thru the port 26. As the water flowing from the storage tank thru pipe 38 into chamber 9 is restricted and incapable of replacing all the water withdrawn from chamber 9, a vacuum will be formed in chamber 9 which will draw in air thru air valve i3. This indrawn air will follow the water drawn from chamber 9 into the pump and into thev storage tan As the water is withdrawn from the chamber 9 and the water level therein recedes, the float 22 will not drop for the reason that the upper valve 29 has a little larger effective area than the lower valve 25 and the pressure in the tank which is efiective against valve 29 thru pipe 29 is greater than the pressure in the chamber 9. -Thus the As the water rises in the 7 valve will be held in closed position in ports 2| and 20 while the valve port at seat 26 will remain open and allow all of the water to be withdrawn from chamber 9 into thepump. The air drawn into chamber 9 thru the decreased pressure therein will follow the withdrawn water into the suction pipe and into the pump and be discharged into the tank i.

As long as the water in the tank I remains above the connection 39, the pump will continue to deliver air to the tank i, but if water is drawn from the storage tank during the air pumping period in suflicient quantities to lower the water level in tank I below the connection 39, thus allowing air to pass from the tank through tube 38 into chamber 9, built up in chamber 9 to a point equal to the pressure in the tank. Thus the diiierence in pressure upon the opposite sides of valve will be destroyed and'the float will drop and open the valve ports 20 and 2i and close the valve port 26 causing the pump to immediately withdraw water from the source of supply.

If because of previous operations of the pump. sufflcient air has accumulated in the tank to bring the water level below the connection'39, at any subsequent operation of the pump, air will pass from the tank thru pipe 38 into chamber 9 and prevent a drop of pressure therein so that, as the water level in chamber 9 lowers, there will be no differential pressure to hold the float in up position. Therefore it will drop with'the water level, opening the valve ports 2| and 20 and closing the valve port 26 and preventing the mechanism from pumping air.

During the air pumping cycle, a small quantity of water passes thru the pipe 38 which finds its way through the valve port 26 and down on check valve 34 for providing a water seal therefor.

During the water pumping period, water escaping thru valve ports 20, 2| which are open at such time, supplies a water seal for valve 25 which at that time is closing the valve port 26. This is an important feature, for sometimes during the water pumping period, the water level in the tank is below the connection 39 and if there were a leakage at valve 25 when closing port 26, air would pass from the tank thru pipe 38, chamher 9' and thru leaky valve port 26 and kill the operation of the pump.

It will of course be understood thatin such a water system, the pump is automatically controlled by the tank pressure so that it is automatically set in operation at a predetermined low pressure will immediately be pressure and automatically stopped at a predetermined higher pressure.

In this improved structure, the pipe 29 is not restricted andis capable of transmitting the full tank pressure at all times thus insuring a sufl"1 cient differential in pressure between that in the tank and that in chamber 9 for maintaining the valve 24 in its seat 2| for closingthe port to chamber 9. Further, when port 2| is closed, port 20 will also be closed, thus preventing water from pipe 29 coming within the influence of the pump.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the air volume control mechanism will successfully operate between any desired ranges of pressure since the float valves are always water sealed in their closed position and there is no possibility of any air issuing from the tank to interim with the operation of the pump due to the improved valve construction.

' I am aware that many changes may be mad fore, do'not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwisethan necessitated by the prior art. h

I claim as my inventionz 1. In a watersupply system, a storage tank, a

' pump for supplyingwaterto said' tank including tion pipe, establishing communication between said cham-- a suction pipe, a casing defining an-air'and water chamber connected to said suctio'n pipe, said chamber havinganair' inlet valve," a pipe having a restricted orifice'connectingsaid tank with the spaced valves first mentioned valve port, and said intermediate top of said chamber,'a valve structure between said chamber and suction pipe, a pipe extending 'from said tank to said valve st-rueture, said valve structure having a passage connecting said chamher with said suction line, a; passage connecting said chamber with said lastmentioned pipe and a passage connecting the first two passages and a trolling said passages. v 7 I 2. In a water supply system, astorage tank, a

pump for supplying air and waterto said tank, a suction line connected tosaid pump, a casing having an air inlet valve'connected to said suction line anddefining an air and water chamber, a valve structure between said chamber and sucincluding afloat controlled valve for her and suction line, anew connection between the top of said chamber andtank and means for establishing communication between said tank fand' valve structure beneath said"fio'at controlled .35

valve for the purpose set 'forth.

3. In a water supply system; a storage tank,-a

" pump for supplyingwater to saidtank, ahousing defining an air and water chamber having spaced connections with said "tank and having an air inlet va1ve,'said'cha mber communicating with said pump a fioatscontrolled valve controlling the communication between said chamber andpump,

and means forsu'bjectin'g said valve to the pressure of said tank in opposed relation toithe pressure in said chamber. Y a v I 1 j v 4. In a water'supply system; a 'storage tank,

means including a suction pipe 'for,supplying water to saidv tank, a casing'defining an air and water' chamber connected to said tank and having afiow connection with said suction pipe, a valvefstructure between'said chamber and suc-;

. tion pipe for controlling said fiowconnection and "including a float valve maintained in up position 5. In a water to nection with said suction pipe, a valve trolling said connection, apressure line by the pressure in the tank during the withdrawal of water and air from said chamber by said means, and a flow connection between the top portion of said casing and tank. a

supply system, a water storage tank, a pump for supplying water to said tank, a suction pipe connected to said pump a casing defining an air and water chamberhaving a con for contank' to said valve for'maintaining said a predetermined position when 'said pump withdrawing water and air frornsaid is chamber,

of said chamber and tank.

and a flow connection'between the upper portion 6. In a watersupplyjsystem," a water storagepump for supplying Water and air to said tank, a .tank, a source of air supply havingseparate flow connections with said tank and pump and means tank,

controlled by the diiferentialoffpressure between said tank and source ofair supply for controlling the flow of air to said pumps s I tion between said -a fiow connection from said,-

valve in'v her and suction" line,

for supplyingwater tosaid tank, acasing defining an air an'd water chamber-having'anair inlet valve, a valve structure, a between said vchamber Y and suction pipe, a pipe extendingfrom said tank "to said valve structure, said valve structure having' a valve 1 port establishing communication between said chamber 7 and last mentioned pipe, a

valve. port' 'establishing, communication between,

' said chamber and suction pipe and'a valve seat between and in alinement with said two-valve 7. In a watersupply system, a Water storage tank, means including apump ,and-suctionpipe ports, a float in said chamber havinga stem with a for simultaneously engaging in the valve seatand shiftable i'or opening the first valve portan'dclosing the other valveport, said valves presentingfdifleient pressure areas to the and airchamberadjacentsaid tank andihaving;

an air inlet, a flow connection;betweensaidtank I and the bottom of said chamber, a flow connec chamber 1 and i suetion line,

valves for/controlling said flow, connections, axi

float in said chamber connected tosaidvalves and iron'rwthe upper'part of said chamber to said tank. I 9. In a-water supply system, a water storage tank, means including a pump for supplying water to Said tank, means defining an air an'd'water chamber adjacent saidhtankand having an air inlet; a flow connected between said tankand the bottomfof. said chamber, a flow connection betweensaid chamber and suction pipe, valves for controlling said flow connections, a. float-in said chamber connected to said valves,,and afflow contheupper portion of said ,chamnectlon between her and tank.

10. In a water supply system,'aswater-storage tank, means including a pump for supplying water to said tank, means definingantair and water chamber adjacent said tank, said chamber hav ing'fan' air. inlet valve,

chamber, a flow said flow'connections, said valves being controlled and chamber under of said chamber and tank. t i

1 1. Ina water supply system, 1 a, water storage tank, means including a pump and suction line for supplying "water to said-tank, means defining an air. and water chamber "adjacent said tank,,said chamber having an air inlet valve, aflowconnem tion between'said tankjandthe bottom, of said 'chamber, a flow connection between said chainvalves for controlling said flow connections, means for controlling said valves for-simultaneously opening one and closing the other; the valve in said second flow connection being sealedby water issuing'irom'said chamber when said valve is in closed position, and a flow connection between said chamber and the upper part of said tanks l -'12. In a water. supply system/a water storage forsupplying water to said .-tank,'means defining a flow connection between- 7 said tank and thebottom of-said connection between said'chamber and pipe, e-= pair of connected valves for controlling suction means including a pump and suction pipe said chamber having an air inlet valve, a flow con nection between said tank and chamber, a flow connection between said chamber and suction connection between the upper part of said chamber and tank.

13. In a water supply system, a water storage tank, means including a pump for supplying water or air to said tank, means defining an air and water chamber having an air inlet adjacent said tank and having a valve structure at its bottom, a flow connection between said chamber and tank, a flow connection from said chamber to said pump, said flow connections including passages through said valve structure, a valve in each flow connection, means for connecting said valves for simultaneously opening one flow connection and closing the other through the fluid pressure in said system, and a flow connection between the upper portions of said chamber and tank.

14. In a water supply system, a water storage tank, containing water and air under pressure, a

source of water supply, an air and water chamber having a valved connection jgwiththe atmosphere, a pump' having cyclic flow connections with said source of water supply and said air chamber for supplying water or air to said storage tank, in combination with means for preventing the withdrawal of air from said air chamber by said pump under predetermined water level conditions in the tank, said means including a flow connection from said tank to said air chamber for the passage of air from said tank to said chamberunder said predetermined conditions.

15. In a water supply system, a water storage tank containing water and air under pressure, a source of water supply,an air and water chamber having a valved, connection with the atmosphere, a pump having flow connections with said source of water supply and chamber for supplying water or air to said tank, and an air flow connection from said tank to said chamber effective for conveying air from said tank to said chamber when the water level in said tank recedes below said air flow connection for preventing the inflow of air to said chamber through-said valved connection and means for closing the flow connection between said air chamber and pump when said chamber is under the pressure of the air in said tan 16. In a water supplysystem, a water storage tank containing water and air under pressure, a source ofwater supply, an air and water chamber having an air inlet valve, 2. pump having flow connections with said source of water supply and chamber for cyclically supplying water or air to said tank, an air flow connection between said tank and chamber, adapted for the passage of air to said chamber under predetermined water level conditions within the tank, and means responsive to the pressure of said system for closing the flow connection between said pump and chamber during the operation of the pump under such predetermined conditions.

17. In a water supplysystem, a water storage tank, a pump having an air pumping cycle and a water pumping cycle for supplying air and water to said tank, a source of Water supply having a flow connection with said pump, a source of air supply having a flow connection with said pump,

said air and water and means responsive to the fluid pressure of said system for controlling said flow connections for supplying either air: or water to said tank through ,said pump,

18. In a water supply system, a water storage tank containing air underpressure, a pump having anair pumping cycle. and a water pumping cyclefor supplying air andwater to said tank, a source of water supply, a suction pipe connecting said source of .water supply and said pump, a check valve between said source of water supply and suction pipe, a source of air supply having a flow connection with said suction pipe, a valve in said flow connection, said valves being responsive to differential fluid pressure between that in the source of air supply and that in the suction pipe for maintaining said check valve closed and the during the air pumping cycle, being. sealed by water issuing other valve open said check valve from said tank, and a flow connection between theupper portion of said chamber and tank.'

- l9. Ina water supply system,a water storage tank, a pump having an air pumping cycle, and a water pumping cyclefor supplying air and water to said tank, a source of water supply, a suction pipe, onnecting said pump with said source of water supply,,a checkvalve between said source of watersupply and said suction pipe, an air and water chamber adjacent said tank having an air inlet valve and a flow connection with said suc-' tion pipe and aconnection with said tank and a valve in said flow connection, said valves being responsive to the differential fluid pressure of said system for maintaining said check valve closed and the other open during the air pumping cycle.

20. Ina water supply system including a storage tank for water and air, a pump, a suction line from a source of water supply to said pump,

a check valve between said source of water supply and said suction pipe, the combination therewith of a casing defining an air and water chamber, said casing having flow connections to said tank and suction ppe and having an valve from the atmosphere, and a valve structure associated with said chamber for controlling fluid flow through said flow connections and air intake valve, said v'alvestructure being operative under a predetermined reduction of pressure in said tank to establish air flow communication through said chamber from said air intake valve to said pump during the air pumping cycle of said pump, and to establish sufticient water flow through said chamber to providea waterseal for said check valve. 7 n

21. In a water supply system including an air and water storage tank, a pump, a source of water supply, a suction pipe connecting said source of water supply to said pump, the combination therewith of a chamber connected to said tank,

' said suction line and the atmosphere, valve means associated with said chamber for controlling flow through said connections responsive when the pressure in said tank is below a predetermined minimum to establish connection chamber between said suction line and atmosphere to cause air to be drawn from the atmosphere into said pump for delivery to said tank during the operation of the pump, and a flow connection between the upper. portion of said chamher and tank.

22. In a water supply system, a water storage tank containing water and air under pressure, a source of water supply, an air and water chamher having a valved connection with the atmosphere, a pump having flow connections with said air intake 7 through said of air supply, a source of water supply; a pump a source of water supply and said air chamben:

. valves in said connections, means for maintaining the valve in the flow line to said chamber in open position under a-predetermined pressure in said tank during the operation of the pump for causing said pump to supply air from said chamher to said tank and causing said valve to close under a different predetermined pressure in said tank for causing said pump to supply water to i said tank.

23. In a water supply system, a storage tank containing water and air under pressure, a source said tank.

ARTHUR W. BURKS. 

